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Hochtief (UK) Construction Ltd has been awarded the contract to re-build Chislehurst Road Bridge, Petts Wood.
The bridge is situated on the A208 Orpington Road and with the estimated project value at less than £4.5 million - around £1.5 million lower than expected - work is due to be completed in 12 months, earlier than originally envisaged. Scheduled to start in September, the planned works follow safety inspections which revealed severe structural weaknesses in the bridge and no alternative to total reconstruction.
"Although we're thrilled to have reduced the indicative closure period from 18 months to 12, and at significantly reduced cost to the taxpayer too, everyone involved with this project remains acutely aware of the disruption and diversions which are going to have to be dealt with and set in place locally during the rebuild phase. As part of this planning we will be advertising preferred routes through regional and local media, encouraging those from further afield to avoid passing through the area all together, right down to encouraging local parents to consider car sharing or walking their kids to school" said Councillor Colin Smith, Executive Councillor for Environment.
Phil Bailey, Construction Director, Hochtief (UK) Construction Ltd. said "We are proud to be working with the London Borough of Bromley on such a major scheme and we're confident that with our expertise, we'll do an excellent job. We know that local residents especially, will be interested in the works for obvious reasons and we will be keeping them informed of our programme."
To relieve likely congestion in the area, traffic management measures will include suspension of the bus lane in Cray Avenue between the junction of Poverest Road and Cray Avenue / Sevenoaks Way , allowing all traffic to use it, and a ban on right hand turns at the junctions with Station Road and Leesons Hill. New parking restrictions in Leesons Hill, at the Cray Avenue junction, are also planned.
The A208 will be closed to all through traffic between the junction of Leesons Hill and Poverest Road for the duration of the year-long project. However, vehicle access will be maintained for residents on each side of the bridge and pedestrians and cyclists will still be able to use the bridge throughout, except during certain construction operations requiring bridge use to be temporarily suspended.
A signed diversion route will take drivers along Leesons Hill, Cray Avenue and Poverest Road - the same route currently used by buses and heavy goods vehicles due to the bridge's imposed 7.5 tonnes weight limit. Cars and smaller vehicles are safe to use the bridge at present.
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Notes to editors:
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The construction design was approved by London Bridges Engineering Group (LoBEG), and Network Rail Network Rail is aware of the proposal which is funded by Transport for London (TfL).
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The bridge is located on the A208 Orpington Road / Chislehurst Road adjacent to the ancient woodland of Petts Wood and Hawkwood estate, an area of National Trust owned land.
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For media enquiries, please contact Andrew Rogers, Communications Advisor, on 020 8461 7670 or email andrew.rogers@bromley.gov.uk
